Health/Fitness- 133 million Americans have a chronic condition like heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, or cancer.- One in five older adults is caught in the grips of depression, anxiety, or substance abuse.Falls Among Older Adults-Every 18 seconds, an older adult is treated in an emergency room for a fall, and every 35 minutes a senior diesfollowing a fall.-Fallsare the leading cause of injury-related deaths among people age 65 and older, accounting for almost 16,000 deaths in 2005.-One out of every three people aged 65 and older falls each year, despite the fact that research shows most falls are preventable.

-It costs more than $19 billion each year to treat injuries from falls, with the average hospitalization for a fall costing $17,500.-By 2020, the annual costs for fall-related injuries are expected to reach $54.9 billion (in 2007 dollars).

Finances- A third of retired older adults rely on Social Security for more than 90 percent of income.- Even after decades of outreach efforts, large percentages of low-income seniors who are eligible for important public benefits are not receiving them. (National Center for Benefits Outreach and Enrollment) In fact, only 1.7% of seniors received public benefits in 2009. (American Community Survey, 9/28/10)- More than 70 million people receiving Medicare over next two decades- Nearly 7.1 million Americans aged 65+ live in poverty.- Americans aged 50+ represent 28% of all delinquencies and foreclosures in the current crisis. (AARP)- Women fare worse than men, with 38% economically disadvantaged compared to 23% of men: White women aged 65+ comprise 50% of those living below poverty. 50% of African American women aged 65+ have incomes at or below 200% of FPL.- In 2009, 27.1 million Americans aged 55+ were employed, and 1.9 million were actively seeking work. In May 2010, 60% of unemployed older workers had been out of work for six months or longer, and 43% had been without a job for more than a year. (CNN, 7/2/10)- One-third of senior households has no money left over each month or is in debt after meeting essential expenses. (Institute on Assets and Social Policy, 2009)- More than half of all the senior households do not have sufficient financial resources to meet median projected expenses based on their current financial net worth, projected Social Security, and pension income.- 96% of Americans aged 65-69 with incomes below the poverty threshold possess retirement savings of less than $10,000. (Institute on Assets and Social Policy, 2009)- More than half of people aged 50+ who carry debt spend most of their monthly income paying it down.- In 2008, the average credit card debt among adults aged 65+ was $10,235. Commonly cited reasons for debt were to pay necessary living expenses and medical costs.- 14% of adults aged 65+ face retirement with negative net worth, contributing to a rise in bankruptcies that has grown at the fastest pace ever. (Aging and Bankruptcy, U.S. Courts) Health & Nutrition- 17% of U.S. households with an elderly member were categorized as food insecure in 2008. These households were uncertain of having, or were unable to acquire, enough food to meet the needs of all members due to insufficient money or other resources. (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2008)-More than one-third of African American and Latino seniors pay out-of-pocket health expenses that consume 15% or more of their income.ResourcesNational Council on Aging,Enhancing economic securityColorado State Attorney General,resources for older consumersAARP,Elder Watch

Housing alternatives- Every day, 10 million Americans need help with tasks like eating, dressing, and bathing.- More than 13 million older adults could pay for help - but their money is tied up in their homes.- Each year, up to 5 million older adults are the victims of elder abuse.- Three out of five senior households of color use more than 30% of their income to pay housing costs, the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development’s definition for unaffordable housing.- 44% of African American and 37% of Latino seniors either rent or have no home equity.- Americans aged 50+ represent 28% of all delinquencies and foreclosures in the current crisis. (AARP)Resources